There are few genres of music that are so beloved and so wide spread today as the Blues. Reaching across borders, languages and beliefs, the blues can be heard being played in Chicago night clubs, Japanese concert halls and festivals in Tiradentes, Brazil.
Pics of the blues legend performing live in Chicago, January 2011.
The CD version of Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan – In Session has been out for years; however, it’s nice to finally see as well as hear both of these blues icons together. And for those who have yet to purchase a copy of this session, you can now pick up the CD and the DVD in one package. Videos of Albert King are far and few anyway, which makes it even more significant.
When thinking back to the ‘60s British rock scene, guitar legends such as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix (who first found fame in London before returning to claim America) and Jimmy Page all come to mind. While all of these players deserve the accolades and recognition they have received over the years, there is one man, one player
Some people are of the opinion that instrumental music sounds routine or redundant after a while, especially when the instrumentals are in specific genres, as it can be theoretically enslaved. However, that idea couldn’t be further from the truth in Spread the Love, the 2010 instrumental release from Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters.
It’s 10:30 PM, I’m sitting at a wooden picnic table, and I feel great! The Monterey fairgrounds are still hopping at the 25th Monterey Bay Blues Festival, held June 25 – 27, 2010, with crowds of people standing in groups or walking around the grounds. The picnic table is in the middle of two different stages, so I can hear a blend of music from the acts still going strong.
With the music industry struggling to find its place in the 21st century, fans and bands alike are standing by, waiting to see if the big names in the business will figure out how to stay alive in this ever changing landscape. While some companies are focusing on fad-induced singles, others are suing coders and even teenagers in an attempt to deal with piracy and the rise of P2P sites like (old) Napster et al
For his latest release with Telarc Records, bluesman Otis Taylor has enlisted an all-star cast of jazz musicians. Pentatonic Wars and Love Songs features Taylor on vocals, acoustic guitar, and banjo, Jason Moran on piano, Ron Miles on cornet, Tarus Mateen on bass, and Nasheet Waits on drums. Aside from this core of musicians, Taylor has incorporated a slew of various instruments not commonly associated with blues music including African drums, violin, and cello. Otis’s daughter Cassie Taylor also provides vocals and bass on multiple tracks.
Eight of the ten tracks on Robben Ford’s fourth and most recent Concord Records release, “Soul On 10”, were recorded last April at The Independent in San Francisco’s Alamo Square.
Joe Bonamassa dreamed of being a professional guitarist and playing the Royal Albert Hall ever since he was a young boy growing up in Utica, New York. This dream came true on May 4, 2009.
